From February 23 to 27, E2 SPORTS went to Douala in Cameroon at the invitation of FIRST SPORT ACADEMY and its founder Théophile NGUINING.
This invitation was launched on the occasion of an inter-academy tournament because Douala has more than twenty academies that work daily to try to promote Cameroonian soccer and its young people from the earliest age.
CAMEROONIAN SOCCER
For a long time considered as the main breeding ground for young talented footballers, Cameroon no longer counts the footballers who made the history of soccer such as Samuel ETO’O, Roger MILLA, François OMAN BIYIK, Patrick MBOMA or Geremi SOREL NDITAP.
However, in recent years, Cameroonian soccer has encountered changes that have seemed to diminish its influence in African and world soccer.
But today, the joint will of the Cameroonian soccer federation (FECAFOOT) and the considerable work carried out by academies, let us hope for great successes to come.
THE CAMEROONIAN PLAYER & EUROPE
At the basis of success, there is always the question of the promotion of the young African footballer. In order to successfully bring a young African to Europe, and more specifically to France, it is often necessary to remove obstacles and barriers
The first obstacle is the doubt about the age of the player. The magazine L’EQUIPE has recently published a report on this topic explaining the causes and origins of this evil that has considerably damaged the trust between clubs and players. The implementation of the FIFA passport since the U12’s allows in a way to have a history of a player’s career and he will enter the system early enough, thus reducing the risk of fraud.
Second, clubs are concerned about the administrative side of things. Today, it is quite possible to invite a young Cameroonian to a club trial in France. The Consulate General of France in Douala knows how to put together this type of file and the digitization of documents allows for the delivery of a visa.
Then there is the fear of the adaptation of the young African in France, especially if it is the first experience of the young person in Europe. However, over the years, the diffusion of European culture via the media and the digitalization of sports content shows that it is increasingly easy for a young Cameroonian to adapt
This adaptation requires a serious supervision, starting with the academy or the club of departure in Cameroon, which must facilitate the departure of the young person, the European club that receives the young person and the representatives of the player who will have to play a role at the same time reassuring and vigilant.
THE PARTNERSHIP
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- E2 SPORTS has responded positively to the invitation of FIRST SPORT ACADEMY to initiate a good collaboration for both Cameroonian clubs, players and European clubs
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- E2 SPORTS has initiated a questionnaire for academies wishing to enter into partnership to better understand the players, the educators, the training conditions and the methods used.
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- E2 SPORTS will only work with academies that can justify the best guarantees for the progress of the young people in their care
THE CAMEROONIAN PLAYER
The soccer culture in Cameroon is everywhere. The Indomitable Lions are a team that brings together all ethnicities and tribes.
The Cameroonian player is primarily athletic. It is often powerful, hard at work and knows how to be a fighter
Secondly, there is the technical culture acquired on fields that are not always simple, with the handling of a ball in a quasi-artistic but nonetheless effective way.
Finally, the tactical progression of Cameroonian players is visible, thanks to the contact of educators who have worked in Europe but also through the local training constantly improved.
All this to say that it is important for a European club to give a chance to young Cameroonian players.
Professional soccer in Cameroon is not very developed, although there are first and second division leagues.
THE 2 PLAYERS E2 SPORTS
On the occasion of its visit to DOUALA, E2 SPORTS decided to represent 2 young Cameroonian players of 18 years old, Dimitri MABONKI and Moussa AHMADOU, respectively defensive midfielder and left-back. These 2 players are from the DAUPHINE academy, one of the most famous in Douala, as well as FIRST SPORT ACADEMY and the BRASSERIE academy from which the young François Régis MUGHE, licensed at the Olympique de Marseille, recently came.
The job of the E2 SPORTS agency is to convince the clubs to welcome these players on trial to give them the opportunity to express themselves in Europe. E2 SPORTS will do everything in its power to try to promote this career so that these young people can fulfill their dreams of playing at the highest level in Europe.